Colorado State University’s Inclusive Communications Task Force has included the words “American” and “America” in its list of words and phrases to avoid using, specifically when those words refer to the United States.
The college has advised its staff to avoid using certain words or phrases that should be avoided, at least in certain contexts, in a list that was last updated in October, 2018, and recently reported by Campus Reform, a conservative news website run by the Leadership Institute.
“The Americas encompass a lot more than the United States,” the school notes. “There is South America, Central America, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean just to name a few of 42 countries in total. That's why the word ‘americano’ in Spanish can refer to anything on the American continent. Yet, when we talk about ‘Americans’ in the United States, we're usually just referring to people from the United States. This erases other cultures and depicts the United States as the dominant American country.”
The school also advises against words or phrases that minimize addiction, mental illness or disabilities, as well as racism, sexism and homophobia. It also advises against using the phrase “hip hip hooray,” as it derives from a German phrase that has anti-Semitic undertones.
The school notes that “this is not an official policy or required practice. This document is intended as a resource to help our campus community reflect our Principles of Community particularly inclusion, respect, and social justice. The language in the guide may not apply to every individual and it is critical to take personal preference into account.”
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